The Film
While the villains of World War II were without a doubt the "Nazis," many people still don't fully understand the concept that all German soldiers were not Nazis. This is a central theme of the film Valkyrie, where several high-ranking German officers and former politicians decided to end the madness that had overtaken their nation, and do so by any means possible. Surprisingly this isn't the first big screen depiction of the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in July of 1944. In fact, the plot was central to the story in the Peter O'Toole film Night of the Generals. It also played out in the TV mini-series War & Remembrance and again in the TV movie The Plot to Kill Hitler.
But even with Valkryie, which casts Tom Cruise in the role of central plotter Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, only part of the bigger story is really told. And while this film features the best use of locations, realistic equipment and notably has the most star-studded cast, it still almost requires viewing the aforementioned stories to get the full picture of the events, those implicated and notably the outcome of this most daring plot.
Want another view through the crosshairs? Check out Joe Lozito's take of Valkyrie.
The Picture
While it is difficult today to see how the Nazis could have entranced a nation such as Germany, the video quality of this Blu-ray Disc also has some issues that seem almost as murky. The 1.85:1 presentation is good, but there is an overall haziness, and a slight muted quality, almost as if this was made to look like an older film. If that was their intent, then they've succeeded. The result is a tad distracting, but overall the 1080p resolution brings out the key details.
The Sound
The 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio sound is also a bit "hot" at times. The film really pushes the extremes from the very subtle, which is expected given that conversations center around assassinating Hitler, to the bombastic explosions of front-line action. The problem is that the former can be so low that you might be grabbing for the remote to increase the volume, only to be practically knocked out of seat by the latter! However, taken as a whole, the soundtrack recreates the full dynamic range of realistic sounds well. If you're looking for extremes to test the dynamic range and finesse of your system, this disc has them. Otherwise, the extremes might be a tad, well, extreme.
The Extras
How exactly the nation was taken over by the Nazis, and how there were those that actually tried to do something about it are just a couple of the topics covered in the bonus features in this package. These featturettes, which look at the road to the resistance, as well as the making of the film, fill in the blanks left by the story. Likewise, audio commentaries by director Bryan Singer and Tom Cruise, along with co-writer Christopher McQuarrie are provided, as well as a second audio commentary with McQuarrie and co-writer Nathian Alexander. This Blu-ray package also includes a digital copy of the main feature. All combined this makes for a package that should satisfy those interested in knowing more about the plot and aftermath.
Final Thoughts
The biggest problem with Valkyrie is that the film focuses too much on the one single plot, and really doesn't provide enough insight into the various supporting characters. Even Stauffenberg's transition from true believer to plotter is barely touched upon - although the film does highlight that he questioned the Nazis before suffering his life changing injuries. However, this is one Blu-ray disc that makes up for those shortcomings with extras that are of the caliber of anything on the History Channel or The Military Channel. Is it edutainment? Perhaps. And not the worst example of it.
Where to Buy
Product Details
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